All you need to know throughout your Abodus journey, from booking your room to living in an Abodus student accommodation. Read on below for answers to the most frequently asked questions:
If you can’t find the answer to your question below, click on the link below.
Your deposit is £150, and will be due for payment at the time of booking your room.
This secures your booking, so that you can take a little bit of time to complete your contract without worrying. Your deposit will also be used to pay any damages that may occur during your tenancy.
Once paid and your contract is signed, we send your deposit to a secure and protected third party, Deposit Protection Scheme. Read all about their T&Cs here.
You will receive your deposit back within 30 days of the end of your tenancy.
If your room is left in a good condition and your account is up to date, you will not have to worry. However, if there are any damages, outstanding charges or unpaid rent, this may be deducted from your total amount.
A guarantor commits to ensuring that the terms of the tenancy agreement are complied with.
Guarantors provide us with additional financial security in the event of a change in your circumstance. If you would like to pay in instalments throughout the year, you will need a UK guarantor.
If you cannot provide a guarantor, you will need to sign a Full Payment Contract, which means your accommodation fees will be due in one lump sum payment before you begin your tenancy with us.
Anyone over the age of 18, who is a UK resident, can be your guarantor.
Circumstances change, we understand that. A guarantor provides assurance to us as your landlords, that there is someone on hand who understands and accepts the responsibility of rent, should you be unable to pay. We may also contact your guarantor in case of repeated incidences of antisocial behaviour.
We will need a Name, current UK address and email address.
Once you have signed your contract, A separate contract will be sent to your guarantor for signing. Once this is completed, the booking process is complete and your accommodation is secured.
Don’t fear! We have full payment contracts available for students who are unable to find a suitable guarantor.
Please notify your site team who will reset for you and resend your email.
Once you have chosen which floor you would like you will see all available rooms in Green.
You must click on the green bed icon in the room of your choice which will change to blue as you hover over it. Once you have done this the room will be locked from others booking for 10 minutes. You can either release and select another room or you can press select at the bottom to continue with your application. If you have any other issues, please contact the site team and they will be able to help.
If you are using an Apple device, you may find pop-ups are blocked and our payment system window will not open.
How to allow pop-ups in iOS and iPadOS:
Once you have done this go back to your Safari browser and refresh the page then click ‘Make payment’, the window should now open for you to continue with the payment.
This may be due to your card limit, bank security measures or input error. Please report to your site team and contact PayPal directly.
You can click release and select again or click the previous button at the bottom of the page, and you will be redirected so you can reselect a room.
What if there is a problem with my room or flat?
You can log maintenance issues through the online portal by logging into your account on the website and click ‘Maintenance request’.
You can also report urgent issues to reception either by coming to the reception desk or calling the telephone number on the site web page. A member of our friendly on-site maintenance team will aim to resolve the issue for you quickly.
How can I obtain the instructions on appliances within my flat?
If you require any instructions or user guides, please contact our staff on site who will be able to assist with this.
Are there staff available onsite?
Each Abodus site has a friendly team, with someone available to our residents 24/7. For some of our sites, an emergency contact number will be provided when staff are not onsite.
Are Abodus sites safe?
Many of our Abodus sites have onsite security staff and digital entry systems in each building. For some of our sites an emergency contact number will be provided when staff are not onsite, ensuring that our buildings are safe and secure.
When can I move in?
If you booked directly with us, you will be able to move in on your tenancy start date, please check your tenancy agreement for confirmation of this, or contact the accommodation team at the site you have booked.
Can I move in earlier than my tenancy start date?
If you need to move in earlier than your tenancy start date, please contact the site you have booked at, all contact numbers and emails can be found on their web page. Early arrivals are subject to availability and you will need to pay any additional rent due before you move in.
How long can I live with Abodus Student Living?
Abodus offer tenancies of different lengths, including short-term contracts. The minimum stay is 2 weeks, and all short term lets are subject to availability and must be paid in advance. If you are interested in a short-term contract, please contact the site directly.
When can I move out?
You can move out whenever you want. However, remember your contract is a fixed term tenancy agreement so even If you move out before your tenancy ends you will still need to pay the full amount of rent.
Can I extend my contract if I need to?
If you need to extend your contract for whatever reason, please contact your accommodation team directly for prices and information. Extensions are subject to availability.
Do I need a guarantor?
To book with us you will need a guarantor. However, please note your guarantor must be in a position to pay any rent due if you are struggling to pay or your student loan is late. If you have any questions about nominating a guarantor, please get in touch and we’d be happy to advise further.
If you pay your rent in full upfront, we may be able to offer you a non-guarantor option. Please contact us prior to making your application to discuss.
Can I book for September?
Yes, Abodus is open, housing students from across the globe and whilst we appreciate you may not be able to attend a viewing in person, we can arrange skype viewings and many of our locations have virtual tours – see our website.
Many of you will be awaiting information on exam results or Visas; however, with Abodus you can book with total confidence.
We operate a 7 day “cooling off” period after you have secured your room with a paid deposit and signed contract.
We also offer you the ability to cancel your tenancy at the earliest reasonable opportunity, and in any event at least 72 hours prior to the move in date, if you have not secured your grades, obtained a suitable visa, or are experiencing extenuating circumstances e.g. ill-health, family circumstances or travel restrictions imposed by the UK Government / your government which mean that you will be unable to attend University.
Our Cancellation and Leavers Policy can be found here.
You can find all documents relating to our cancellation policy below:
What types of rooms are on offer?
To see the different room options on offer, choose your city and property from the main menu. If you are unsure of which room to choose, why not arrange a viewing?
How many people can share each flat?
Our shared flats range from 3 to 7 beds. If you need any advice about which option would be right for you, our staff would be happy to help.
Can I choose which flat I would like to be allocated to?
When booking directly with us, you can view floor plans for your chosen building, and you can select your own room. This gives you more control over where you will be living and who with!
Can I find out who my flatmates are before I move in?
While we can let you know the ages and genders of your future flatmates, we cannot provide their names or any other personal information. This information is present during the self-select process on line.
However, you can find your flatmates through our Facebook pages, or through your University’s social media – it’s a great way of getting to know everyone in your flat before you’ve even moved in!
Can I book with my friends?
If you’re planning on living with your friends, you’re in luck! We can accommodate groups of 4-7, depending on availability. Contact your site directly with the names of your group and we will be on hand to help.
What do I need to bring with me that my accommodation doesn’t already provide?
Unsure of what you need to bring for your bedroom? We’re here to help!
When it comes to your bedroom, please note that we do not provide bedding. We suggest you bring along a duvet, pillows and bed linen. You may also want to bring clothes hangers, towels and a laundry bin.
While we provide some kitchen appliances, we do suggest each tenant brings their own crockery, cutlery and other kitchen utensils. Upon arrival, most students living in shared flats arrange with their flatmates to buy some communal items – we recommend this as a cheaper option which would also avoid cluttering the kitchen with multiple items.
For a full list of what we advise you to bring, check out your student handbook. If you are unable to bring certain items with you, don’t panic – there are plenty of shops close by where you can find the things you need.
Can I park on-site?
We do not provide car parking at our sites.
We advise residents not to bring cars to our accommodation as parking can be a long distance from our sites and also costly.
St Lawrence House is the exception, with a limited amount of parking available. Please contact site for costs and availability.
Can I smoke in my flat?
No, smoking is a fire hazard and so for the safety and comfort of everyone, smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes/vapes is forbidden in either your room, the communal areas of your flats or any other internal area of the building. There are designated smoking areas in the grounds of every building which you are welcome to use. Note that anyone found to be smoking in the building will be subject to our antisocial behaviour process.
Can I have guests over?
As a tenant of an Abodus site you are more than welcome to invite guests to your accommodation for up to 3 nights at a time. If your guest is staying overnight, please let a staff member know. We also suggest that you do be mindful of your flatmates: let them know before your guests arrive, and ensure you still comply with site rules regarding noise in the flat. Moreover, remember that as a tenant of an Abodus site you are responsible for the behaviour and actions of your guests.
Can I swap rooms?
It may be possible to change your room after you have moved in depending on availability- we suggest you get in touch with your accommodation team on site, over the phone or through email. Please note to be able to complete a room move, your rent account will need to be fully up to date, an inspection of your room will take place and you will incur a £50 administration charge that will need to be paid before the move can take place.
When do I pay my rent?
2022/23:
1st October 2022
1st January 2023
24th April 2023
2023/24:
XX October 2023
XX January 2024
XX April 2024
If you prefer you can also pay in full at the start of your contract.
If you are unable to make your rent payment on or before these dates for whatever reason you must inform the accommodation team at your site, either by coming to the reception desk or calling the telephone number on the property web page.
How can I pay my rent?
You can pay your rent through the online portal – simply log into your account on our website and click the option to ‘Pay your rent’.
If you are unable to pay through the online portal, you can pay via bank transfer or PayPal – please speak to your accommodation team for details. Unfortunately, we no longer accept card payments for rent.
You can find a sample copy of our contract here.
We do not store debit/credit card details.
A TV licence is not included as part of your tenancy agreement. If you have brought your own TV, or if your flat has a TV in the shared communal space that you’d like to watch, you will require a TV licence. To find out more and apply go to the official TV Licensing Website.
We offer free high speed internet access in all our buildings, which is provided by ASK4. If you require a faster speed, please contact ASK4 directly to arrange an upgraded package which will be payable directly to them.
Telephone – 0114 303 3232 – ASK4 have many bilingual and multilingual Support team members and also have use of a translation service, should a language barrier be a worry.
SMS (for a call back) – 07797 800 545
Email – support@ask4.com
Live Chat – visit support.ask4.com
– Maximum speed is 100Mb, which applies to both the wired and wireless connections. This is true at all Portland Green buildings besides Rosedale Court, where the maximum is 50Mb.
– All bedrooms, corridors and communal areas are covered. (Lifts, stairwells and external parts of the site are not).
– Maximum speed is 200Mb, which applies to both the wired and wireless connections.
– All bedrooms, corridors and communal areas are covered. (Lifts, stairwells and external parts of the site are not).
Insurance with cover4insurance.com is included in your fees.
Personal Possessions up to £7000
Computer Equipment up to £2500.
You can increase your cover for additional items/elements or value by contacting Cover4Insurance.com.